- 2009
2008 Kia Rio
- Used Kia Rio
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Kia Rio does moderately well in government crash tests, and most reviewers are pleased with the sedan's list of standard safety equipment.
To auto writers like the Washington Post, the 2008 Kia Rio is a "reasonably safe" vehicle, and almost all reviews note that the Rio provides front seat, side-impact and head curtain air bags standard on all its models, "making the Rio … one of the cheapest cars to come with this important safety gear on every model," as U.S. News' Rick Newman says.
The Rio earned four out of five stars for driver protection and five stars for front passenger protection in frontal offset tests. In side crashes, the 2008 Rio earned four stars for the front seats but only three out of five stars for rear seat protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety only gave the 2008 Kia Rio an "Acceptable" rating in frontal-offset tests (the second-highest rating) and a "Poor" for side-impact crash tests.
Accident Avoidance
To help drivers avoid an accident, Rios come with anti-lock brakes and fog lights. Heated outside mirrors is an additional safety feature. Despite these accident prevention features, a handful of reviews cite poor visibility and blind spots, and Consumer Guide specifically cites the rear corners for providing a bad line of sight.
Crash Protection
The 2008 Kia Rio's six air bags "suggest that Kia is serious about safety," Newsday writes, and others agree. Those six air bags include dual front advanced, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain. The front seats have pretensioners and force limiters, while all seats have three-point belts. The rear seats have LATCH for child occupants. Side-impact and front and rear crumple zones are all a part of the Rio's efforts to protect its passengers.
